Bedding rose plant named ‘Meimauleva’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of Bedding rose plant, herein referred to by its cultivar name, ‘Meimauleva’, is provided which forms in abundance on a substantially continuous basis attractive, flat cup-shaped, red-purple colored blossoms. Attractive, semi-glossy foliage is formed and the plant is very floriferous. The tolerance to disease is good, particularly with respect to black spot. The new variety is well suited for providing attractive ornamentation in the landscape.

Botanical/commercial classification:

Latin name—Rosa hybrida.

Common name—Bedding Rose Plant.

Varietal denomination—‘Meimauleva’.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new variety of Rosa hybrida Bedding rose plant of the presentinvention was created by artificial pollination wherein two parents werecrossed which previously had been studied in the hope that they wouldcontribute the desired characteristics. The female parent (i.e., seedparent) of the new variety was the ‘The Fairy’ variety (non-patented).The male parent (i.e., pollen parent) was the ‘Frantasia’ variety (U.S.Plant Pat. No. 17,518).

The parentage can be summarized as follows:‘The Fairy’ x ‘Frantasia’.

The seeds resulting from the above pollination were sown and smallplants were obtained which were physically and biologically differentfrom each other. Selective study resulted in the identification of asingle plant of the new variety.

It was found that the new Bedding rose plant of the present inventionpossesses the following combination of characteristics:

-   -   (a) displays a vigorous plant,    -   (b) shows a red-purple coloration of the flower which is a        beautiful contrast with the semi-glossy foliage,    -   (c) is very floriferous,    -   (d) exhibits good tolerance to disease, particularly with        respect to black spot, and    -   (e) is well suited for providing attractive ornamentation.

The new variety well meets the needs of the horticultural industry. Itcan be grown to advantage as ornamentation in parks, gardens, publicareas, and in residential settings. Accordingly, the plant isparticularly well suited for growing in the landscape.

The new variety can be readily distinguished from its ancestors. Morespecifically, blooms of the ‘The Fairy’ variety display clear pinkcoloration, while the new variety displays red-purple coloration of theblooms. Further, while the new variety commonly displays 8 petals perbloom on average, the ‘Frantasia’ variety has between 13 to 17 petalsper bloom on average.

The new variety has been found to undergo asexual propagation in Franceby a number of routes, including budding, grafting, and the rooting ofcuttings. Asexual propagation by the above-mentioned techniques inFrance has shown that the characteristics of the new variety are stableand strictly transmissible by such asexual propagation from onegeneration to another. Accordingly, the new variety undergoes asexualpropagation in a true-to-type manner.

The new variety has been named ‘Meimauleva’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same in color illustrations of this character,typical specimens of the new variety. The illustrated rose plants of thenew variety were approximately one year of age and were observed duringJune while budded on their own roots and growing outdoors at Le Cannetdes Maures, Var, France. Dimensions in centimeters are indicated at thebottom of the photograph. Standard color information is included at thebottom of the photograph.

FIG. 1—illustrates a specimen of a young shoot.

FIG. 2—illustrates a specimen of a floral bud before the opening of thesepals.

FIG. 3—illustrates a specimen of a floral bud at the opening of thesepals.

FIG. 4—illustrates a specimen of a floral bud at the opening to thepetals.

FIG. 5—illustrates a specimen of a flower in the course of opening.

FIG. 6—illustrates a specimen of a flower in the course of opening—planview—obverse.

FIG. 7—illustrates a specimen of a flower in the course of opening—planview—reverse.

FIG. 8—illustrates a specimen of a fully open flower—plan view—obverse.

FIG. 9—illustrates a specimen of a fully open flower—plan view—reverse.

FIG. 10—illustrates a specimen of a floral receptacle showingarrangement of the stamens and pistils.

FIG. 11—illustrates a specimen of a floral receptacle showingarrangement of the pistils (stamens removed).

FIG. 12—illustrates a specimen of a flowering stem.

FIG. 13—illustrates a specimen of a leaf with 3 leaflets—plan view—uppersurface.

FIG. 14—illustrates a specimen of a leaf with 5 leaflets—plan view—undersurface.

FIG. 15—illustrates a specimen of a leaf with 7 leaflets—plan view—uppersurface.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The chart used in the identification of colors is that of The RoyalHorticultural Society (R.H.S. Colour Chart, 2001 edition), London,England. The terminology which precedes reference to the chart has beenadded to indicate the corresponding color in more common terms. Thedescription is based on the observation of one-year-old specimens of thenew variety during June while budded on their own roots and growingoutdoors at Le Cannet des Maures, Var, France.

-   Class: Bedding Rose.-   Plant:    -   -   Habit.—Bushy.-   Branches:    -   -   Color.—Commonly near Yellow Green Group 144A on young stems,            and commonly near Yellow Green Group 147B on adult wood.        -   Thorns.—Configuration on adult stems: elongated and curved            downwards on the upper surface and concave on the under            surface with an oval shape at the base. Long prickles            (≥0.6 cm) — quantity: commonly approximately 8 thorns per 10            cm long young stem and commonly approximately 6 thorns per            10 cm long adult stems. Long prickles (≥0.6 cm) — color:            commonly near Yellow Green Group 150B on young stems and            commonly near Greyed Orange Group 164A on adult stems. Long            prickles (≥0.6 cm) — size: commonly 0.7-0.8 cm in length on            average on young stems and commonly near 0.6 cm in length on            average on adult stems. Small prickles (<0.6 cm) — quantity:            commonly approximately 62 thorns per 10 cm long young stem            and commonly approximately 6 thorns per 10 cm long adult            stem. Small prickles (<0.6 cm) — color: commonly near Yellow            Green Group 150B on young stems and commonly near Greyed            Orange Group 164A on adult stems. Small prickles (<0.6 cm) —            size: commonly 0.1-0.2 cm on average in length on young            stems and approximately 0.1 cm on average in length on adult            stems.-   Foliage:    -   -   General appearance.—Rather dense with a semi-glossy aspect.        -   Leaf.—Length: approximately 10.5 cm to 13 cm on average.            Width: approximately 6.5 cm to 7.5 cm on average.        -   Number of leaflets.—3, 5, and 7; most often 5 or 7.        -   Terminal leaflet.—Length: approximately 3.5 cm on average.            Width: approximately 2.9 cm on average.        -   New foliage.—Upper surface color: commonly near Green Group            137C. Under surface color: commonly near Yellow Green Group            148B.        -   Adult foliage.—Upper surface color: commonly near Yellow            Green Group 147A. Under surface color: commonly near Yellow            Green Group 146C.-   Leaflets:    -   -   Shape.—Tip: cupsidate. Base: obtuse.        -   Texture.—Leathery.        -   General appearance.—Oval.        -   Edge.—Slightly denticulate.        -   Serration.—Small and single.        -   Rachis.—Color of upper surface: commonly near Yellow Green            Group 148C. Color of under surface: commonly near Yellow            Green Group 147D.        -   Petioles.—Upper surface texture: glandular, with a few            glands and small hairs. Under surface texture: few prickles.            Color of upper surface: commonly near Yellow Green Group            146B. Color of under surface: commonly near Yellow Green            Group 147D. Petiole length of terminal leaflet: near 3.4 cm            on average.        -   Stipules.—General appearance: adnate, pectinate and rather            broad. Length: near 1.4 cm on average. Width: near 0.6 cm on            average. Color of upper surface: commonly near Yellow Green            Group 146B. Color of under surface: commonly near Yellow            Green Group 147D.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Number of flowers per stem.—Commonly singly or in a cluster            of approximately 2 to 4 blossoms per stem on average.        -   Buds.—Shape: conical. Size: small. Length: approximately 0.9            cm on average. Width: approximately 0.6 cm on average. Color            as calyx breaks — upper surface: commonly near Red Purple            Group 73C to Red Purple 74B. Color as calyx breaks — under            surface: commonly near Red Purple Group 74D to Red Purple            group 74A.        -   Sepals.—Length: approximately 1.5 cm on average. Width: near            0.5 cm on average. Shape: without extension; base is            upright; top is longish. Upper surface — texture: tomentous.            Upper surface — color: commonly near Green Group 138C. Under            surface — texture: smooth. Under surface — color: commonly            near Green Group 139C.        -   Receptacle.—Color: commonly near Green Group 139C. Length:            approximately 1.1 cm on average. Width: approximately 1 cm            on average. Surface: smooth. Shape: funnel shaped.        -   Peduncle.—Length: near 3 to 5 cm on average. Width:            approximately 0.3 cm on average. Surface: smooth. Color:            commonly near Green Group 139C.        -   Flower.—Average open size: near 5 cm. Shape: flat cup            shaped. Number of petals: commonly 8 petals. Shape of petal:            Base: obtuse. Top: rounded. Texture of the petal: leathery.            Petal length: approximately 2 cm on average. Petal width:            Approximately 2 cm on average. Petal arrangement: imbricated            without petaloids. Petal drop: petals drop off cleanly            before drying. Fragrance: none. Color when opening — upper            surface: commonly near Red Purple Group 73C amply bordered            with near Red Purple Group 74B. Color when opening — under            surface: commonly near Red Purple Group 74D bordered with            near Red Purple Group 74A. Color of the open flower — upper            surface: commonly near Purple Group 75C bordered and            suffused with near Red Purple Group 74B. Color of the open            flower — under surface: commonly near Purple Group 75C            bordered and suffused with near Red Purple Group 74B.            Anthers: number is approximately 57 on average, length is            approximately 0.1 cm on average, coloration is commonly            between Yellow Orange Group 17B and Yellow Orange Group 17C,            and arrangement is regular around styles. Filaments: length            is approximately 0.2 cm on average, and coloration is near            Yellow Orange Group 16D. Styles: number is approximately 17            on average, length is approximately 0.1 cm on average, and            coloration is commonly near Orange Group 24D. Stigmas: size            is approximately 0.2 cm on average and coloration is            commonly near Yellow Group 2D. Hip: rounded shape and near 1            cm in size on average.-   Development:    -   -   Vegetation.—Strong.        -   Blooming.—Early in the season, very abundant and nearly            continuous.        -   Tolerance to diseases.—Good, and particularly against black            spot (Diplocarpon rosae).

Plants of the ‘Meimauleva’ variety have not been observed under allpossible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possiblethat the phenotypic expression may vary somewhat with changes in lightintensity and duration, cultural practices, and other environmentalconditions.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct Bedding rose plant characterized by thefollowing combination of characteristics: (a) displays a vigorous plant,(b) shows a red purple coloration of the flower which is a beautifulcontrast with the semi-glossy foliage, (c) is very floriferous, (d)exhibits good tolerance to disease, particularly with respect to blackspot, and (e) is well suited for providing attractive ornamentation;substantially as herein shown and described.